RM4.54 mln approved for infrastructure in Batu Kitang

July 8, 2017, Saturday

Lo (fourth right) with Fadillah (fourth left) and others during the site inspection at Jalan Batu Kitang.

KUCHING: The state government has approved RM4.54 million for four infrastructure development projects in Batu Kitang constituency.

Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said of the amount, RM3.5 million was meant for improvement works on 5.8km of Jalan Batu Kitang.

“The improvement of Jalan Batu Kitang from the Mile 7 traffic light junction up to Keranji, a small town along Jalan Bau/Jalan Batu Kitang will commence in September and is expected to be completed in November this year,” he told a press conference at a coffee shop near the Mile 7 Bazaar before a site inspection here yesterday.

Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council chairman, said the state Public Works Department (JKR) had informed him that the improvement works would be carried out at night for the convenience of road users.”
He thanked Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing who had pledged to upgrade the road when he delivered his winding-up speech in the last State Legislative Assembly sitting.

“I also want to thank residents and road users of Jalan Batu Kitang for their patience as they have been waiting for the pipe-laying work along the road to be completed.

“We have to wait until September to start the project because we need to commission the pipe line first. Once (the road upgrading is) completed, residents of Batu Kitang will be able to experience a smooth and nice ride while the area will look more beautiful,” remarked Lo.

Besides, he said RM500,000 had been approved to light up Jalan Landeh whose residents have been requesting for street lighting.

“The whole of Jalan Landeh up to the last village Kpg Betong will be lit up. This project is made possible thanks to Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who was Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture during the 2016 state election.

“Abang Johari supported me by promising to source half a million ringgit to put up lighting for the whole Landeh area. This project will be completed by Sesco before the end of this year,” added Lo.
He said the project was one of the election promises being fulfilled by the state Barisan Nasional government.

To ease the long queue and traffic jam at Jalan Haji Baki, traffic lights will be put up at the Jalan Haji Baki/Jalan Batu Kitang junction, he said.

According to him, residents in the area find it ‘difficult to come out in the morning and go back in the evening’ in view of the heavy traffic along Jalan Batu Kitang.

“I thank the state government for approving RM350,000 for the traffic lights requested by residents there. We target to start the project in September and complete it in November (this year).”

The remaining fund of RM190,000, he said, would be for upgrading work on the expansion joint of Batu Kitang Bridge.

“The expansion joint of the bridge has been damaged due to high frequency of use. The work will start tonight (last night) and is expected to be completed in two weeks,” added Lo.

Among those present was state JKR Kuching divisional engineer Awg Mohammad Fadillah Awg Redzuan.